Latest news with #HitMeHardandSoftTour
Express Tribune
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Express Tribune
Billie Eilish says she feels ‘seen' among Irish fans, prompting mixed internet reactions
Billie Eilish told her Dublin audience that she felt 'so seen' being surrounded by people who looked 'just as pasty' as her, a comment that quickly drew mixed reactions online. During her Hit Me Hard and Soft Tour at 3Arena, the 23-year-old artist addressed the crowd, referencing her Irish ancestry and her connection to the audience. 'As you guys know, I'm Irish, so it's cool to be here,' she said. 'Obviously, I am not from here, but it's really cool to come somewhere and, like, everybody looks exactly like you, and you're all just as pasty as me, I love it.' She continued, 'Seriously though, it's so amazing. It just makes me feel so seen … Also, like, a thousand of my relatives are in the crowd right now, I'm pretty sure. Thank you for coming.' Eilish has previously spoken about her Irish and Scottish roots, noting in a Today FM interview that she grew up knowing her ancestry but only felt a meaningful connection after visiting Ireland. Online, reactions varied after the clip went viral on X with many users taking the clip out of context and accusing Eilish of promoting white nationalism. One user said, 'Billie really said 'wow that's a lot of white people, I like it here!'' while others viewed her words as an innocent expression of belonging. Some questioned her phrasing, though many fans defended the sentiment. The moment added to Eilish's growing list of personal remarks that strike a chord, and sometimes controversy with global audiences.
Time of India
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Billie Eilish accused of racism over Irish heritage remarks at Dublin concert; fans say 'can no longer defend her'
Billie Eilish is catching heat online after commenting on her Irish heritage during her Hit Me Hard and Soft Tour stop in Dublin on Saturday, July 26. The 23-year-old singer was performing at the 3Arena when she spoke about how at home she felt among the Irish crowd, referencing their shared complexion and ancestry. While many fans in the venue took it as a sweet and relatable moment, a wave of criticism online has painted it in a very different light. What Billie Eilish said on stage During a short break in her set, Billie addressed the crowd with excitement and gratitude. 'As you guys know, I'm Irish, so it's cool to be here,' she said. 'Obviously, I am not from here, but it's really cool to come somewhere and, like, everybody looks exactly like you, and you're all just as pasty as me. I love it.' She went on to say, 'Seriously though, it's so amazing. It just makes me feel so seen… Also, like, a thousand of my relatives are in the crowd right now, I'm pretty sure. Thank you for coming. Thank you for having me here. I love it here. It's so beautiful, and you are all so beautiful, and I see so many familiar faces out there.' Billie Eilish celebrates return to Irish homeland. "It's really cool to come somewhere and everyone looks exactly like you". Fans on X are divided The internet wasn't entirely on board. While some fans saw her comments as innocent and self-deprecating, others on X (formerly Twitter) accused the singer of veering into xenophobic territory. One person wrote, 'Crazy statement to make as a white woman.' crazy fucking statement to make as a fucking white woman 💀 "Oh alright, first Billie confirms that her "queer persona" was just an act to sell sales by dating a man. DURING PRIDE MONTH might I add (which she hasn't apologised for yet, btw)!! and now she's saying dumb things like this. I don't know how much longer I can defend her," a second added. Oh alright, first billie confirms that her "queer persona" was just an act to sell sales by dating a man, DURING PRIDE MONTH might I add (which she hasn't apologized for yet btw!!) and now she's saying dumb things like this. I don't know how much longer I can defend her. 'Do white people hear themselves when they speak?' another said, echoing the frustration. "Why is she acting like there's a shortage of whites in the United States?" one person said. why is she acting like there's a shortage of whites in the united states? Billie has spoken about her Irish heritage before This isn't the first time Eilish has opened up about her roots. Earlier in July, she told Today FM that she grew up hearing she was Irish and Scottish but didn't really feel a connection to that part of her background until visiting Ireland. She described the experience as 'really cool' and said it helped her better understand that side of her identity. Her tour continues across Europe Despite the backlash, Billie's Hit Me Hard and Soft Tour is going strong. The European leg has been packed with sold-out shows, emotional fan moments, and surprise setlist switches. The tour is a companion piece to her critically acclaimed 2024 album of the same name, She'll continue to perform across the UK and mainland Europe through August before heading back to North America later this year. While social media debates her choice of words, the crowds at her shows don't seem to be going anywhere.
Metro
14-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Metro
'I'm camping for 8 days to see Billie Eilish - I promise I don't stink'
From Beatlesmania to Swifties, enthusiastic fans have always existed, and they will go to extreme lengths to see their favourite artist. Billie Eilish stans are no different, with hundreds camping outside the O2 Arena, London, in hopes of getting to the front to see the Bad Guy hitmaker perform. The former Glastonbury headliner is currently in the UK on her Hit Me Hard and Soft Tour, which Metro gave five stars on London's opening night. With three shows left to go of her six-night residency at the venue, we spoke to the dedicated fans making the O2 their home for the week. 'We don't stink,' two fans insisted instantly from in the queue, who had been there since July 7, despite the fact that they didn't have tickets to night one or two. 'We're going to night three, which is the 13th,' said Ams. 'We're camping for a total of eight days for our show.' Hygiene when camping for a week (as any festival goer will know) is one of the biggest challenges, but without facilities, Billie fans have had to get creative. Ams and her friend Alice were camping 'off-site' as the O2 put out a statement notifying fans that tents on-site and the 'neighbouring vicinity' were not allowed. 'We have an Airbnb,' Ams explained. 'We're going back there to shower. We do not stink, we shower – every day, twice a day.' Fans have created a small community of tents away from the O2 (but not too far away), which security has reportedly been conducting welfare checks on. Just because they weren't actually seeing Billie that night didn't mean the pair were sitting in their tents, missing the atmosphere. Ams claimed she 'did the whole of night one' with the people waiting and even 'queued everyone up' after a frantic sprint for the front. @metroentertainment 'We don't stink!' ⛺️ We spoke to fans who have camped overnight to secure barrier spots for @billieeilish's six night's at London @theo2official. We asked the O2 about their policys for fans who have insisted on camping out ahead of the concert and they told us that, 'Camping is not allowed at The O2 nor in the neighbouring vicinity. Anyone found to be camping will be asked to move'. They also went on to add that, 'The O2 security team continues to liaise with the Safer Neighbourhood Police team to carry out regular welfare checks of the area'. 🎥 @zofia_louise #billieeilish #hitmehardandsofttour#finneas #london #O2arena #O2 #celebrity #concertcamping #camping ♬ LUNCH – Billie Eilish 'It was a bit hectic,' she said. 'I had to line everyone up within 30 minutes and we were all the way off campus.' The O2 statement added that any queuing system enforced by fans would 'not be acknowledged' and they would be giving out wristbands once the venue opened. Other fans were less extreme than Ams and Alice – who also introduced a friend who had camped since July 4 – and were limiting themselves to 24 hours. 'We're not sleeping in here overnight,' explained one girl at the campsite. 'Apparently, the queue opens at midnight because it's technically the same day as the concert.' Her plan was to 'sprint' over to the O2 at midnight and wait there until doors opened at 5.30pm, with Billie not due on stage until 8.20pm. Metro's music expert Danni Scott weighs in on whether you need to camp for shows – or if you can still rock up at doors. Camping for gigs has been growing in popularity, particularly among Gen-Z and the upcoming Gen Alpha (who are now around 14 years old). While it is driven by the desire to be at the front, other factors like the potential for a viral clip and clout are definitely at play. The badge of 'I camped for eight days' gives you some authority within the fanbase, marking you a really dedicated stan. Imagine those teenage/early 20s feelings amped up by the pressures of social media – we'd camp too. Despite what those on social media might suggest, you really do not need to camp unless you are desperate to be at the barrier. This goes even more so for Billie's gig, where her stage is in the middle, meaning everyone is closer to her than at a normal concert. Spending hours queuing, especially in this heat, also puts you at risk of dehydration. By trying to be at the front, you may, in extreme cases, run the risk of passing out and needing to leave the show entirely. You can have just as much fun at the back of standing, dancing around with your friends with more room to move as you will right at the front. Yes, when you're short, it can be a restricted view but you're not there to stand still the entire time, just shuffle elsewhere. The determination of some fans to be at the very front can come at the detriment of the enjoyment of others. During gigs, things do shift, and there's no point being defensive over your space just because you've been camping for five days; that's your choice. Equally, if you rushed in late, don't shove anyone out of the way on your beeline to the barrier. Fans need to learn how to be in a space together again, whether you're a 5-dayer or a 5-minuter. One fan had travelled from Sicily, Italy, with his dad after missing out on her European leg. The duo had been queuing since 8.30am and were relatively near the front. 'It was early enough,' the teenager said, 'Maybe [we should have arrived] five minutes earlier, but just that.' He noted that some doors had opened already to let barrier fans in, which they had narrowly missed out on after some girls 'surpassed' them in the rush. Another woman, who woke up at 4.30am and arrived at 7am, shared: 'When we got here this morning, there were still people with blankets and sleeping bags and chairs and stuff. I think they've been going and changing throughout the day.' 'I guess they're very dedicated and at the front of the queue,' she answered when asked if campers were 'jealous' that her comparatively relaxed approach yielded surprisingly good results. Concerns have repeatedly been raised over young fans camping outside gigs, especially as London has been experiencing a heatwave over the past week. Dehydration mixed with dancing to hits like Guess is a potential nightmare for security and fans, with passing out during the show a real risk. 'We were outside for about four hours but it was in and out of the shade,' revealed one man whose friend was equipped with a fan. 'Some parts were quite bad and like really hot,' he continued. 'We managed to go out and get some water.' Then there's the fact the majority of those queuing are young women in their late teens to early 20s with no protections, although most told us they felt safe as there was strength in numbers. @metroentertainment Is this really safe? 😳 @billieeilish is playing six nights @theo2official in London during her 'Hit Me Hard and Soft: The Tour'. Despite being told by the arena that they are not allowed to camp outside the stadium, diehard fans have set up camp at a secret London campsite as a way to secure those barrier spots. By preventing fans from camping outside the arena, these fans have been sleeping alongside the Thames and under no shade during London's current heatwave. We approached The O2 for response to their decision to prevent fans from camping, which they said, 'Camping is not allowed at The O2 nor in the neighbouring vicinity. Anyone found to be camping will be asked to move' They continued, 'The O2 security team continues to liaise with the Safer Neighbourhood Police team to carry out regular welfare checks of the area'. What do you think? 🎥 @catrionawalshx #billieeilish #hitmehardandsofttour #finneas #o2arena #camping #investigation #o2arenalondon#celebrity #concertcamping ♬ original sound – Metro Entertainment – Metro Entertainment 'It could seem a lot more unsafe, but when you're with a big crowd of people, it is a lot safer than you would think,' shared Sophie. 'When we're able to queue later on in the night, because queuing starts at midnight, the security is out all night and we're right next to them.' While the driving force behind the queues is the desperate need to be as close to the artist physically as possible, fans insisted there was a community aspect. With local community centres closing across the country, teenagers are online more than ever before. Queuing outside the O2 Arena could be the only chance outside school younger music lovers have to build friendships with other fans. More Trending 'I got the Instagram of so many people,' said one girl. 'There's also people we've seen at different concerts and different tours. 'There's a huge sense [of community] because we've all been through the night together, we've all got closer.' Billie will conclude her London run on July 17 before performing four nights in Manchester's Co-op Live Arena and heading to Dublin at the end of the month. Got a story? If you've got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@ calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we'd love to hear from you. MORE: Someone's about to buy a car parking space in Kensington priced at £180,000 MORE: Cyclist told daughter 'I want to live' days before dying from crash injuries MORE: Inside the fight against graffiti on trains across the UK's railways
Metro
11-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Metro
I wasn't a Billie Eilish fan until her London gig completely changed my mind
It's funny how something as simple as moving the stage can completely transform an arena into an intimate venue, but Billie Eilish did just that. Two years on from being the youngest ever Glastonbury headliner, my expectations were high for the opening night of a five-night run at London's O2 Arena. After that one gig, I have gone from a sceptic to a full convert into the cult of Billie. I'm unsure why the magnitude of her stardom has passed me by for so many years, but her Hit Me Hard and Soft Tour managed to reignite my love for forgotten tracks and emotionally connected me to others, which I never paid enough attention to. That's what good live music should do. Hard and soft couldn't be a more perfect name for this tour as she opened with huge hits CHIHIRO and LUNCH, immediately getting the energy up and everyone dancing. While she has plenty of big dance hits, it was the soft core of the show that really stood out, with those undeniably incredible vocals taking centre stage. By placing said stage in the middle of the O2 — with no viewing restrictions other than the occasional floating speaker — the 23-year-old star made a 20,000-person venue feel downright cosy. Fans were within touching distance without even trying, and coupled with her selfie camera streamed onto the screens, it felt like Billie was reaching back out. It's impossible not to warm to her with her beaming smile and emotional message to the audience that this was a 'safe space' for everyone. Such a stripped-back show is not what I expected from a former Glastonbury headliner's entire tour, but it all feels effortless. Billie was made for this. While her rendition of her Barbie hit, What Was I Made For?, was a particular highlight, the standout moment was by far When The Party's Over. Created by looping vocals, Billie boldly asked the audience for complete silence for one minute. Having seen Beyoncé's mute challenge, I was apprehensive, but the crowd obliged, resulting in a haunting moment with Billie's harmonising filling the O2 arena. It's no surprise her show was a hot ticket, with ticket exchange and resale platform, Viagogo, revealing the number of searches for her shows could have filled Wembley Stadium 12 times over. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video By far the most popular night was Thursday, July 10, with fans desperate to be the first to see their idol. Of course, Billie's popularity has been helped (as if it needed to be) by viral tracks like Bird of a Feather and her appearance on Charli XCX's Guess remix — both of which feature on the setlist. In fact, when she opened her tour and played Guess for the first time in September, it became Charli XCX's fifth highest-viewed day on Viagogo that year. That's the power of Billie. In a way, I was thankful for the lack of a Charli special guest cameo, although she is projected on screens. This was not her moment. Instead, it proved what the entire hour and a half set had emphasised from the start – a true icon needs no stunts. Yes, Billie floated on a platform a few times, but ultimately this was about the raw talent of the Lunch hitmaker and her band. More Trending I'm still emotional thinking about her rendition of What Was I Made For, sung while kneeling in front of an adoring crowd. Or her shortened version of Happier Than Ever, a song I wish had been given five extra verses rather than cut down. This is where Billie shines; she is in a league of her own among the pop girlies when it comes to sheer vocal talent. I might be so bold as to say that the star delivered the perfect gig. Visually stunning in its simplicity, pitch perfect vocals, dance numbers and a prompt finish at 10pm – I was on the tube home by quarter past (a real win in my books). In a world where more is more and big-name cameos are what make a show memorable, Billie Eilish proved that sometimes just being a strong performer is enough. Got a story? If you've got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@ calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we'd love to hear from you. MORE: Judge eviscerates singer suing Grammy winners for copying song 'played 670 times' MORE: Singer Ethel Cain admits she is 'not proud' of disturbing posts after backlash MORE: Grammy-winning star battling cancer fears 'cruel' deportation under new Trump law
Daily Mirror
09-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Billie Eilish is set to headline The O2 and you can get last-minute tickets here
Global pop star Billie Eilish has a busy summer ahead with plans to play a mammoth six dates in London as part of her highly-anticipated Hit Me Hard and Soft tour Brits are getting more excited by the day as Billie Eilish officially opens the UK leg of her much anticipated Hit Me Hard and Soft Tour — with the musician set to play six dates in London alone. She started her journey across the British Isles with a show in Glasgow, Scotland on Monday, July 7. Clips from the concert were shared and went viral on social media platforms, as fans started to look forward to the Grammy Award-winning artist coming to their city. But for many, however, they were dealt a huge dose of FOMO - the fear of missing out. With demand surging for tickets, and basically every gig completely sold out, their options are running out as they desperately claw for any opportunity to reserve their place. Billie has been on tour since September 2024 when she started performing out in Canada. This was before she ventured throughout the US, Australia, and a number of countries in Europe such as France, Italy, and Germany among others. Now she's landed in the UK and has a bunch of dates not only in the capital but also in Manchester. If you don't have a ticket, there's no need to feel defeated just yet as The Mirror may be able to help you out. Billie Eilish London dates The 23-year-old global superstar is set to perform an incredible six nights at London's O2. Her first is on July 10th, before subsequent shows on July 11, July 13, July 14, July 16 before finishing on July 17. How to get last minute Billie Eilishtickets The best way to find tickets to any of Billie's shows, not just in London but also perhaps Manchester or even Dublin, is to go on official ticket resale platforms. Options include Ticketmaster, Viagogo and Stub Hub. Please note that these platforms have a limited number of tickets available, so you need to be quick if you want to buy a ticket. Best advice is to keep checking these sites regularly up until the day of the concert, as people may suddenly need to resell their tickets should they no longer be able to attend. For more stories like this subscribe to our weekly newsletter, The Weekly Gulp, for a curated roundup of trending stories, poignant interviews, and viral lifestyle picks from The Mirror's Audience U35 team delivered straight to your inbox. Billie Eilish London O2 setlist According to here's the songs Billie sung during her Hit Me Hard and Soft Tour show at Glasgow's OVO Hydro on July 7 to help give an idea of what to expect: CHIHIRO LUNCH NDA (Shortened) Therefore I Am WILDFLOWER when the party's over (Sung over looped vocals recorded live) THE DINER ilomilo bad guy THE GREATEST Your Power (Acoustic) SKINNY TV BITTERSUITE bury a friend Oxytocin Guess (Charli XCX cover) everything i wanted (Shortened) BLUE lovely / BLUE / ocean eyes L'AMOUR DE MA VIE (OVER NOW EXTENDED edit) What Was I Made For? Happier Than Ever (Shortened) BIRDS OF A FEATHER BLUE Help us improve our content by completing the survey below. We'd love to hear from you!
